The role of the caudate nucleus in taste function: a comprehensive narrative review

The caudate nucleus, a key component of the dorsal striatum, has traditionally been recognized for its roles in motor control and cognitive functions. However, emerging neuroimaging and neurophysiological findings show its crucial involvement in gustatory function as well. The papers analyzed in this comprehensive overview indicate that the caudate nucleus and dorsal striatum exhibit consistent activation during gustatory stimulation, respond to different metabolic states, motivation, and hedonic value, and interact with regions involved in reward and emotional processing across health and disease. Even if these results are promising, experimental designs are frequently heterogeneous, so more evidence is needed to elucidate the link between taste and these subcortical regions. This approach may provide new perspectives on the neural substrates of chemosensation and potential targets for taste-related interventions.